Jerry Koosman is going to jail

A federal judge in Madison has sentenced a former New York Mets star pitcher to six months in prison for not paying his taxes.

Prosecutors say Jerry Koosman, a former all-star who helped the Mets win the 1969 World Series, didn’t pay federal income taxes for 2002, 2003 and 2004, costing the government as much as $90,000.

According to IRS agents, the 66-year-old Koosman, of Osceola, told them he had researched tax laws and concluded they applied only to federal workers, corporate employees and District of Columbia residents.

Based on the strength of that defense, it sounds like he didn’t have his best stuff working.

Can we get a third “former Met making himself look like a jackass in federal court” story today? Has anyone seen Doc Gooden?

YEAH BUT DID U KNOW THAT THEIR IS NO PLACE IN THE TAX CODE OR THE CHARTER OF THE IRS (WICH IS A PRIVATE COMPANY BTW- NOT GOVT!!) THAT STATES U MUST PAY INCOME TAXES. IT IS A SCAM SHEEPLE MUST FIGHT BACK! I SAW IT ON THE INTERNETS AND ALSO A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS ENLIGHTENED.

I worked with one of these anti-tax guys back in the early 90s, their “argument” hasn’t changed. He didn’t convince anyone else then, either, and when layoffs came, the employers knew who to get rid of first, they didn’t want the hassle.

It’s kind of interesting how the anti-tax advocates are using famous people like Snipes and Koosman to bring attention to their movement. It almost reminds me of athletes praying on the 50-yard line.

As for Koosman, I’m pretty sure that the legal defense has to prove that the defendant sincerely believes he did not have to pay taxes. If he saved up cash in order to pay once he was caught, that would be a clear indication that he thought otherwise.

That’s one of the points that tripped up Snipes, too. When you argue that you aren’t obligated to pay taxes, sending the IRS a fake check (as Snipes did) pretty much sinks your case in court.

It might be interesting to research just how many dumb a$$e$ like Koosman have gone to Federal Prison for the same offense,just since the 1970’s ( ? ) It also leads mee to ask him this question : how many times did he ( Koosman ) refuse to pitch in a stadium that was at the very least,partly built with both Federal and State tax monies ?